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Rape trial jury told of fears for safety

A jury has heard from the friend of a teenager who alleges she was raped by a 25-year-old man in his car.

Aaron Deakin-Hars, of Squires Road, Brize Norton, denies one charge of rape, allegedly committed on March 16 last year.

He is accused of carrying out the crime while his car was parked on a country road near Carterton after meeting a girl he had been sending messages to on Facebook.

Yesterday a friend of the 15-year-old complainant told the trial at Oxford Crown Court that she called her 18 times in half an hour on the day of the alleged rape, because she was worried for her safety.

Fern Russell, prosecuting, said the defendant does not deny having sex with the girl, whose age he said he did not know, but told police it was consensual.